How much do triathlete need to learn about swimming?
Former Member
I do not mean this as a heartless criticism of triathletes. I actually enjoy the sport. But many of them start doing triathlons with almost no knowledge or experience in swimming. Here are a couple of choice comments to the thread I linked below. Thank goodness I knew how to ride a bike and run before I started doing tris - but not well. Give them credit for taking it on, but I do think they should learn to swim before entering one.
"The swim is short ( 150 yards ), and I can make it..not without stopping a couple of times at the end of the pool."
"A lot of pool sprints are so newbie friendly that they let you get through the water any way you can. I have seen people water walk the 300 meters in a pool swim in my area."
"My wife did an indoor tri a few months ago and I think 1/4 of the people walked the swim."
I recommended that the person do breaststroke.
www.beginnertriathlete.com/.../thread-view.asp
From these comments I believe the triathletes in my area are smarter than most. Any I have come in contact with take a year to prepare for an Ironman length Tri. Many work with a coach.
On the other hand, I have been the starter at a triathlon (with a swim of 't try it the day before or the morning of.
From these comments I believe the triathletes in my area are smarter than most. Any I have come in contact with take a year to prepare for an Ironman length Tri. Many work with a coach.
On the other hand, I have been the starter at a triathlon (with a swim of 't try it the day before or the morning of.
